Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, Washington, says it has sold the U.S. flag ocean-going twin screw tug "Melvin E. Lemmerhirt" to U.S. buyers on a private & confidential basis. The 3,900BHP tug was built in 1973 for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. as one of the company's largest tugs by Southern Shipbuilding of Slidell, Louisianaas Hull No. 102. Southern Ship always had a reputation of building fine tugs, building their first in 1903. The shipyard was originally established by Fritz Salmen in the 1880s, becoming Slidell Shipbuilding in 1914 and Canulette Shipbuilding in 1919. After passing through several hands, it was renamed Southern Shipbuilding in 1957. The yard was eventually closed and the site razed in 1993.